Magnetic Resonance Imaging on Sodium Nuclei: Potential Medical Applications of 23Na MRI

Abstract

Sodium is a key element in a living organism. The increase of its concentration is an indicator of many pathological conditions. ²³Na magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a quantitative method that allows to determine the sodium content in tissues and organs in vivo. This method has not yet entered clinical practice widely, but it has already been used as a clinical research tool to investigate diseases such as brain tumors, breast cancer, stroke, multiple sclerosis, hypertension, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, osteoarthritis. The active development of the ²³Na MRI is promoted by the growth of available magnetic fields, the expansion of hardware capabilities, and the development of pulse sequences with ultra-short echo time.